Page 80 of Phillip

But he was feeling was a different kind of energy that tempted him to lean into the gas pedal. Ashley was distraught, and he didn’t blame her. After learning about the confrontation she’d had with her mother, and adding Agatha’s phone call to Uncle Graham, Phillip had no clue what kind of drama waited for them.

Before he knew it, they arrived, and he slowed in front of the beach house. An unfamiliar SUV was parked in the driveway.

“They never travel together.” Ashley bit her lip as he killed the ignition. “And she’s never without her staff.”

Phillip shook his head. Agatha Cartwright couldn’t get any worse. “Whatever happens, we roll with it. Deal?”

“Deal.” Though she didn’t sound convinced.

Phillip opened the door and went around to offer Ashley a hand. Together they strode up the front walk as Ashley death-gripped his hand.

She reached for her keys, but the door flung open. A visibly distraught Mary Beth stepped out and shut the door behind her.

Ashley moved to her best friend. “Are you okay, Mary Beth?”

“What do you think?” Mary Beth glanced over her shoulder at the closed door. “No offense, but your mother scares me.”

“None taken. She scares me too.” Both girls stood at the door for a long second before Ashley asked, “My dad is here?”

Mary Beth nodded solemnly. “Glenn is here.”

“What are they doing?”

Mary Beth lifted her shoulders. “Your dad is reading the paper at our dining room table, and your mother is on the deck.”

If Phillip hadn’t known Agatha, he might have laughed because this sounded like a serious overreaction. But he knew better. “We can’t stand outside all day. Let’s go say hello.”

Mary Beth groaned but stepped back, gesturing that he should go first. “Sure, of course. After you, brave soldier.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, muttering, “It’s not going to be that bad.”

A mumbled “ha” trilled behind him, and Phillip didn’t know if it came from Ashley or Mary Beth. They entered together and didn’t hear a sound. It would’ve been normal, yet it was creepy. They walked closely together into a beach house that had become a house of horrors.

“Honey.” The girls jumped at Ashley’s father’s voice as they rounded into the dining area.

Phillip rested his hand at the small of Ashley’s back as her father continued. “We’re sorry to drop in unannounced. Let me get your mother.”

Her father offered her a stiff but friendly embrace then walked toward the sliding glass doors.

After both parents were on the deck, Mary Beth muttered, “Are we in the twilight zone?”

“Maybe,” Ashley said. “But my dad has never been the problem. Guard your loins.”

As if theproblemneeded an announcement, her dad walked in from the deck alongside Ashley’s mother. The woman didn’t look nearly as happy to be there as her husband, but Phillip couldn’t exactly read her expression.

“Ashley Catherine.” Her mother stopped midway across the living room, adding with small disdain, “And Phillip.”

He nodded hello, taking his cue from Ashley, who didn’t move to greet her mother.

“Why are you here?” Ashley demanded without any preamble.

“I thought I’d like to visit—” Agatha paused, most likely to rethink her explanation, as her husband gave her a quick nudge. “I wanted to follow up on our conversation.”

Mary Beth gave Ashley a sorry-but-not-sorry look then excused herself from the room. Agatha eyed Phillip, silently encouraging him to do the same, but he didn’t move a muscle.

“I suppose it’s best you’re here,” her mother lamented.

“Would you like to have a seat?” Glenn headed toward his paper.

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